Related Articles

Preston Road in Dallas, Texas, runs approximately 80 miles. Its northern terminus is in Preston on the shores of Lake Texoma, and its southern terminus is in Highland Park at its junction with Armstrong Parkway. Forest Lane in Dallas, Texas, runs almost 20 miles from the junction of Interstates 35 E and 635 in Farmers Branch to the confluence of West Avenues B and D in Garland. The two roads cross in the north Dallas neighborhood of Preston Hollow; four strip malls gird the junction, and the presence of several offices, subdivisions, supermarkets and clothes and craft stores has encouraged a number of restaurants to set up business close by.

Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse

Elias Bryan opened his first barbecue restaurant in 1910. Forty-eight years later, his son, known as Sonny, opened his own; in a state where barbecue is a religion, that longevity is a clue to Sonny's quality. Despite having served U.S. presidents, famous entertainers and sports legends, neither the menu nor the decor is fancy. Sonny's meat is unfailingly moist, flavorful and smoky; portions and sides are truly Texas sized. The rib and brisket two-meat plate showcases Sonny's signature dishes. Service is attentive and extremely speedy, but the restaurant does become extremely crowded at lunchtime. The atmosphere is relaxing, and dining at the picnic benches outside patio is pleasant on warm Texas evenings. As of 2011, there are nine Sonny Bryan's restaurants in the metroplex and -- because of the cooking time inherent in producing traditional Texas barbecue -- they infrequently close early when the kitchen runs dry.

Mi Cocina

15 Mi Cocinas are part of a local chain that runs 21 restaurants in the metroplex; M Crowd also owns 5 Taco Diners and the upscale Mercury. The Preston-Forest location was their first, in 1991, where 12 tables were insufficient from the outset. Similar to barbecue, Tex-Mex food is almost sacred in the Lone Star State, so success is an infallible indicator of quality. Nothing is too fancy, the food is well-priced and the spices are well balanced. Lunchtime sessions are typically aimed at time-constrained customers, but the evenings are far more relaxed; complimentary chips and salsa are brought to the table along with menus, so ordering is unhurried. Particularly recommended are homemade guacamole, chicken and rice soup, rico salad with spicy blue cheese dressing, chicken fajitas and brisket tacos, which can be ordered on flour or corn tortillas. Margaritas at Mexican restaurants seldom have a good reputation, the frozen variety being overly sweet and the on-the-rocks variety usually packing less than a punch; Margaritas at Mi Cocina suffer from neither failing.

Typical Weather

Texas in

--°FHigh

--°FLow

--%

Chance of Rain

--%

Cloud Cover

The temperature in Texas in December tends to be very predictable, so you can generally count on the forecast and travel light.

The temperature in Texas in December is somewhat unpredictable, so be on the safe side and prepare for a variety of conditions.

The temperature in Texas in December is highly unpredictable, so use the forecast as a guide, but be ready for anything!

Pei Wei Asian Diner

As of 2011, the Pei Wei Asian Diner trades in 25 states, with three locations in north Dallas; P.F. Chang's is the parent company. All subscribe to a corporate theme of dark red decor, small bistro-style tables and muted lighting. Although all dishes are prepared using Mandarin-style woks, Pei Wei does not specialize in Chinese food, serving a pan-Asian fusion of dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and Korea as well as China. Because it is part of a corporate fast-food chain, product is not as good as that in owner-operated restaurants, and the Americanized sauces are glutinous and overly sweet. Wait staff are swift despite an apparently high staff turn-over, although the feeling is as much that they need to reuse the table as much as provide good service. Be warned: the Korean hot pepper sauce is indeed hot.

Scotty P's Hamburgers

Scotty P's Hamburgers is yet another chain presence in the Preston-Forest strip malls. It specializes in burgers and chicken with splendidly greasy sides such as bacon, onion rings and Cardiac Fries (a genuine menu option). That said, burgers are grilled over open flames -- always a great char on the patties -- and turkey burgers are available; multi-grain buns are offered at a small extra cost. Sweet potato fries make an interesting change, although again there is an upcharge. The standard menu item is a 6-oz. burger served in toasted sesame seed bun with lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, shredded cheese and mustard. Scotty P's has a large kids menu; all meals come with a drink and fries for $4.99. Burgers are offered with a wide range of toppings, and the mushroom-cheese burger is particularly good. Note that if cheese is required, this must be mentioned when making the order.

References

About the Author

John Cagney Nash began composing press releases and event reviews for British nightclubs in 1982. His material was first published in the "Eastern Daily Press." Nash's work focuses on American life, travel and the music industry. In 1998 he earned an OxBridge doctorate in philosophy and immediately emigrated to America.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.